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An illustration image of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.(Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

LAFAYETTE – The first Monday of the month is a big public meeting day, with city councils in Lafayette and West Lafayette and the Tippecanoe County each doing official business.

This will be the first first Monday under the limits of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s stay-at-home order, which allows for essential public meetings but encourages measures to limit the number of people gathering in one place, to observe social distancing guidelines to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The three are handling things a little differently when it comes to how they’re meeting and how the public can follow and participate.

Tippecanoe County Commissioners, 10 a.m. Monday, County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette: The commissioners plan to livestream the meeting, with commissioners limiting meetings to 10 people, Paula Bennett, the commissioners’ assistant, said. Members of the public can view the meetings live on the county’s Facebook page or on YouTube at https://youtu.be/wm7rVidVIJ4.

People who want to submit comments on agenda items for commissioners’ meetings may email to Bennett at plbennett@tippecanoe.in.gov prior to 9:30 a.m. on the day of the meeting. Bennett said she would monitor comments made during the meeting on social media and convey those to commissioners. “But early submission will be more reliable,” Bennett said.

“As for real time public comment,” Bennett said, “we are investigating our viable options now. We are considering a phone bridge or other virtual meeting platform, but a particular source has not been identified at this time.”

Lafayette City Council, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Lafayette City Hall, 20 N. Sixth St.: City council members will meet in council chambers on the first floor of city hall and “will be spaced strategically six feet from one another spaced throughout the council chambers,” City Clerk Cindy Murray said. Members who aren’t able to be the will be able to monitor things through live audio and livestreaming, but “they will not be able to comment or vote,” Murray said.

Murray said the city was encouraging the public to comment on agenda items via email, either to their council members or to the city clerk. Email addresses are available at www.lafayette.in.gov/644/City-Officials.

“We are not telling people they cannot attend, just trying to abide by the governor’s orders,” Murray said. She said petitioners or presenters have been asked not to attend, instead encouraging them to make their presentations to the mayor in advance.

Otherwise, she said, “we can usher them in one by one as their agenda item is up for discussion.”

► West Lafayette City Council, 6:30 p.m. Monday, former Happy Hollow Elementary, 1200 N. Salisbury St.: Mayor John Dennis said the meeting will be the first conducted electronically, without the physical attendance at the city offices.

“Government must lead the way to flatten the curve,” Dennis said. “Our city will conduct future public meetings by teleconference as long as necessary to make sure we are part of the solution in ending the pandemic. Public health and public access both win, and that is great. “

To comment, email sent to clerk@westlafayette.in.gov by 4 p.m. on the meeting date will be forwarded to the council members prior to the meeting. The city suggests identifying the agenda item in the email subject Line.